Argument to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (1996), which ensures social media platforms are not held liable for statements made by their users.
Lies, Spies and Big Data: How Fake News Is Rewriting Political LandscapesRussian Council
On November 7, 2016, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States after a bitterly-fought campaign against Hillary Clinton. The election was very closely-run, with Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote, but losing the presidency based on the U.S. electoral college structure. However, months after Donald Trump was declared President of the United States, questions remain about the legitimacy of the U.S. elections. The central issues are the emergence and use of so-called ‘Fake News’ and the accusation that Russia, through espionage and online hacking operations, sought to influence the presidential elections to promote Donald Trump and denigrate the reputation of Hillary Clinton.
The issues thrown up in the wake of the U.S. presidential election have fundamentally undermined trust in the workings of the international media and further damaged U.S.–Russia relations. A report by the U.S. intelligence services accusing Russia of attempting to influence the outcome of the election, prepared for President Obama and published in the election’s immediate aftermath, led to the expulsion1 of 35 Russian diplomats from Washington just days after the results were announced. President Putin, on the other hand, opted not to expel any U.S. diplomats from Russia. The investigation into Russia’s involvement and influence on the U.S. elections continues today.
This policy brief provides an overview of how the gathering and dissemination of news has changed in a globalized digital environment, how consumers digest and share news at an ever-increasing pace, and how the management of big data can influence electorates across borders. It will also define ‘fake news’ and the extent to which it might have influenced the results of the U.S. elections.
Analysis of sources and effect of fake news on society Arpit Khurana
This report reviews the relevant literature to provide a definition of fake news, its potential impact and recent responses to this phenomenon. Finally, the report provides a summary of the research and important findings concerning fake news in the conclusion.
The document discusses the challenges of foreign state-sponsored disinformation in the digital age. It provides context on how disinformation spread on social media and Russian propaganda during the Ukraine conflict. The key points made are:
1) Social media has disrupted traditional media and allowed for easy spread of disinformation by states and individuals.
2) Disinformation exploits vulnerabilities in the information ecosystem, including how platforms are designed to optimize viral content, use of bots and fake accounts, and exploitation of human biases.
3) On average, false stories spread much more quickly than the truth on social media, especially for political topics, undermining trust in information. Understanding the interplay between technology, media and human behavior is needed to
Social Media and Fake News in the 2016 ElectionAjay Ohri
This document discusses fake news and its potential impact on the 2016 US presidential election. It begins with background on the definition and history of fake news, noting its long existence but arguing it is growing as an issue today due to lower barriers to media entry, the rise of social media, declining trust in mainstream media, and increasing political polarization. It then presents new data on fake news consumption prior to the 2016 election, finding that fake news was widely shared on social media and heavily tilted towards supporting Trump. While estimates vary, the average American may have seen or remembered one or a few fake news stories. Education level, age, and total media consumption were associated with more accurate assessment of true vs. fake news headlines.
A. I need to remind the people who help me with this paper that my.docxrhetttrevannion
This document discusses several topics related to digital media and journalism. It summarizes how internet-based companies have disrupted traditional journalism by moving users and advertisers online. This has undermined the financial model of print journalism. It also discusses how social media platforms have become new "gatekeepers" that control what audiences see and influence the type of content that is produced. Additionally, it describes how echo chambers and filter bubbles can be created through personalized algorithms on social media, and how this allows misinformation to spread rapidly.
Manipulating Social Media to Undermine Democracy 2017 Final Alireza Ghahrood
his report was made possible by the generous support of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), Google, the German Federal Foreign Office, the Internet Society, Yahoo, and Golden Frog. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of Freedom House and does not necessarily represent the views of its donors.This booklet is a summary of findings for the 2017 edition of Freedom on the Net. A full volume with 65 country reports assessed in this year’s study can be found on our website at www.freedomonthenet.org.
Manipulating Social Media to Undermine Democracy Online content manipulation contributed to a seventh consecutive year of overall decline in internet freedom, along with a rise in disruptions to mobile internet ser-vice and increases in physical and technical attacks on human rights defenders and independent media.Nearly half of the 65 countries assessed in Freedom on the Net 2017 experienced declines during the coverage period, while just 13 made gains, most of them minor. Less than one-quarter of users reside in countries where the internet is designated Free, meaning there are no major obstacles to access, onerous restrictions on content, or serious violations of user rights in the form of unchecked surveillance or unjust repercussions for legitimate speech.The use of “fake news,” automated “bot” accounts, and other manipulation methods gained particular atten-tion in the United States. While the country’s online environment remained generally free, it was troubled by a proliferation of fabricated news articles, divisive partisan vitriol, and aggressive harassment of many journalists, both during and after the presidential election campaign. Russia’s online efforts to influence the American election have been well documented, but the United States was hardly alone in this respect. Manipulation and disinformation tactics played an important role in elections in at least 17 other countries over the past year, damaging citizens’ ability to choose their leaders based on factual news and authentic debate. Although some governments sought to support their interests and expand their influence abroad—as with Russia’s disinformation campaigns in the United States and Europe—in most cases they used these methods inside their own borders to maintain their hold on power
American election watching in Myanmar: Consideringsocial media and Buddhist-M...MYO AUNG Myanmar
American election watching in Myanmar:
Considering social media and Buddhist-Muslim conflict.As Myanmar continues to face violence between Buddhist and Muslim communities a number of
voices, from within the country and from outside, have raised concerns about the influence of
social media. After riots in Mandalay during July 2014, for example, international and local
media and government sources identified rumours circulating on Facebook as the cause.2
President Thein Sein has also raised concerns about ‘hate speech’ and other instigating messages
shared online and in her first report the new UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in
Myanmar, Ms Yanghee Lee, noted that such messages are fuelling and triggering violence.3 But
less than 5% of the population in Myanmar is estimated to have access to the Internet.4 How can
access to social media be contributing to Buddhist-Muslim conflicts?
To say that low Internet penetration rates proves the irrelevance of social media is too
simple, however, especially because access to the Internet is expanding rapidly. As an empirical
matter, it is likely too early to conclusively determine if and how social media access is
influencing Buddhist-Muslim conflicts in Myanmar. But this does not mean the potential
relationship is unworthy of consideration. Therefore, in order to generate insights that may be
useful in both understanding the contemporary moment as well as anticipating the future, this
chapter will draw from experiences with, and literature on, relationships between social media
and political conflicts in another country context: the United States.
Matt Schissler, in Nick Cheesman & Htoo Kyaw Win (ed.), Communal Violence in Myanmar,
Myanmar Knowledge Society, Yangon, 2015 [In Burmese and English].
Lies, Spies and Big Data: How Fake News Is Rewriting Political LandscapesRussian Council
On November 7, 2016, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States after a bitterly-fought campaign against Hillary Clinton. The election was very closely-run, with Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote, but losing the presidency based on the U.S. electoral college structure. However, months after Donald Trump was declared President of the United States, questions remain about the legitimacy of the U.S. elections. The central issues are the emergence and use of so-called ‘Fake News’ and the accusation that Russia, through espionage and online hacking operations, sought to influence the presidential elections to promote Donald Trump and denigrate the reputation of Hillary Clinton.
The issues thrown up in the wake of the U.S. presidential election have fundamentally undermined trust in the workings of the international media and further damaged U.S.–Russia relations. A report by the U.S. intelligence services accusing Russia of attempting to influence the outcome of the election, prepared for President Obama and published in the election’s immediate aftermath, led to the expulsion1 of 35 Russian diplomats from Washington just days after the results were announced. President Putin, on the other hand, opted not to expel any U.S. diplomats from Russia. The investigation into Russia’s involvement and influence on the U.S. elections continues today.
This policy brief provides an overview of how the gathering and dissemination of news has changed in a globalized digital environment, how consumers digest and share news at an ever-increasing pace, and how the management of big data can influence electorates across borders. It will also define ‘fake news’ and the extent to which it might have influenced the results of the U.S. elections.
Analysis of sources and effect of fake news on society Arpit Khurana
This report reviews the relevant literature to provide a definition of fake news, its potential impact and recent responses to this phenomenon. Finally, the report provides a summary of the research and important findings concerning fake news in the conclusion.
The document discusses the challenges of foreign state-sponsored disinformation in the digital age. It provides context on how disinformation spread on social media and Russian propaganda during the Ukraine conflict. The key points made are:
1) Social media has disrupted traditional media and allowed for easy spread of disinformation by states and individuals.
2) Disinformation exploits vulnerabilities in the information ecosystem, including how platforms are designed to optimize viral content, use of bots and fake accounts, and exploitation of human biases.
3) On average, false stories spread much more quickly than the truth on social media, especially for political topics, undermining trust in information. Understanding the interplay between technology, media and human behavior is needed to
Social Media and Fake News in the 2016 ElectionAjay Ohri
This document discusses fake news and its potential impact on the 2016 US presidential election. It begins with background on the definition and history of fake news, noting its long existence but arguing it is growing as an issue today due to lower barriers to media entry, the rise of social media, declining trust in mainstream media, and increasing political polarization. It then presents new data on fake news consumption prior to the 2016 election, finding that fake news was widely shared on social media and heavily tilted towards supporting Trump. While estimates vary, the average American may have seen or remembered one or a few fake news stories. Education level, age, and total media consumption were associated with more accurate assessment of true vs. fake news headlines.
A. I need to remind the people who help me with this paper that my.docxrhetttrevannion
This document discusses several topics related to digital media and journalism. It summarizes how internet-based companies have disrupted traditional journalism by moving users and advertisers online. This has undermined the financial model of print journalism. It also discusses how social media platforms have become new "gatekeepers" that control what audiences see and influence the type of content that is produced. Additionally, it describes how echo chambers and filter bubbles can be created through personalized algorithms on social media, and how this allows misinformation to spread rapidly.
Manipulating Social Media to Undermine Democracy 2017 Final Alireza Ghahrood
his report was made possible by the generous support of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), Google, the German Federal Foreign Office, the Internet Society, Yahoo, and Golden Frog. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of Freedom House and does not necessarily represent the views of its donors.This booklet is a summary of findings for the 2017 edition of Freedom on the Net. A full volume with 65 country reports assessed in this year’s study can be found on our website at www.freedomonthenet.org.
Manipulating Social Media to Undermine Democracy Online content manipulation contributed to a seventh consecutive year of overall decline in internet freedom, along with a rise in disruptions to mobile internet ser-vice and increases in physical and technical attacks on human rights defenders and independent media.Nearly half of the 65 countries assessed in Freedom on the Net 2017 experienced declines during the coverage period, while just 13 made gains, most of them minor. Less than one-quarter of users reside in countries where the internet is designated Free, meaning there are no major obstacles to access, onerous restrictions on content, or serious violations of user rights in the form of unchecked surveillance or unjust repercussions for legitimate speech.The use of “fake news,” automated “bot” accounts, and other manipulation methods gained particular atten-tion in the United States. While the country’s online environment remained generally free, it was troubled by a proliferation of fabricated news articles, divisive partisan vitriol, and aggressive harassment of many journalists, both during and after the presidential election campaign. Russia’s online efforts to influence the American election have been well documented, but the United States was hardly alone in this respect. Manipulation and disinformation tactics played an important role in elections in at least 17 other countries over the past year, damaging citizens’ ability to choose their leaders based on factual news and authentic debate. Although some governments sought to support their interests and expand their influence abroad—as with Russia’s disinformation campaigns in the United States and Europe—in most cases they used these methods inside their own borders to maintain their hold on power
American election watching in Myanmar: Consideringsocial media and Buddhist-M...MYO AUNG Myanmar
American election watching in Myanmar:
Considering social media and Buddhist-Muslim conflict.As Myanmar continues to face violence between Buddhist and Muslim communities a number of
voices, from within the country and from outside, have raised concerns about the influence of
social media. After riots in Mandalay during July 2014, for example, international and local
media and government sources identified rumours circulating on Facebook as the cause.2
President Thein Sein has also raised concerns about ‘hate speech’ and other instigating messages
shared online and in her first report the new UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in
Myanmar, Ms Yanghee Lee, noted that such messages are fuelling and triggering violence.3 But
less than 5% of the population in Myanmar is estimated to have access to the Internet.4 How can
access to social media be contributing to Buddhist-Muslim conflicts?
To say that low Internet penetration rates proves the irrelevance of social media is too
simple, however, especially because access to the Internet is expanding rapidly. As an empirical
matter, it is likely too early to conclusively determine if and how social media access is
influencing Buddhist-Muslim conflicts in Myanmar. But this does not mean the potential
relationship is unworthy of consideration. Therefore, in order to generate insights that may be
useful in both understanding the contemporary moment as well as anticipating the future, this
chapter will draw from experiences with, and literature on, relationships between social media
and political conflicts in another country context: the United States.
Matt Schissler, in Nick Cheesman & Htoo Kyaw Win (ed.), Communal Violence in Myanmar,
Myanmar Knowledge Society, Yangon, 2015 [In Burmese and English].
The History and Spread of American Fake News and What Organizations Can Learn...Shandi Greve Penrod
This document provides an overview of the prevalence of fake news. It discusses how fake news has existed throughout history but has increased with new communication technologies like the internet and social media. The open internet allows anyone to publish information, and social media algorithms can spread misinformation quickly within social bubbles. The document highlights how fake news spread on social media greatly during the 2016 US election, influenced by both foreign actors like Russian troll farms and domestic profiteers creating fake news for advertising revenue. The prevalence of fake news online and its ability to spread widely has serious consequences for public discourse and organizations.
Internet subcultures like trolls, gamergaters, hate groups, conspiracy theorists, hyper-partisan news outlets, and politicians take advantage of vulnerabilities in the current media ecosystem to manipulate news frames and propagate their ideas. They use techniques like memes, bots, and strategic amplification on social media to increase the visibility of their messages. Factors like lack of trust in the media, decline of local news, and the attention economy make the media vulnerable to such manipulation. The outcomes can include increased misinformation, distrust of the media, and further radicalization.
We are living in the ear of post-truth. After the surge of fake news stories during the 2016 U.S. elections, several initiatives have been introduced to mitigate the problem like fact-checker organization, artificial intelligence and government aggressive measures. All this are promising, but are we really winning the battle against disinformation?
Most social media users blamed both political parties for the government shutdown, according to an analysis of over 150,000 tweets, Facebook posts, and Reddit comments. Sixty-four percent of comments blamed both sides, while 30% blamed Republicans and 6% blamed Democrats. The majority of posts expressed overwhelmingly negative sentiments toward both parties. Anti-Republican messaging increased following morning news shows, though anti-Democratic messaging was slower but more geographically widespread.
In this 21st century, data holders possess more power than governments. The ability to influence the opinion of people lies with them. Revisiting the Cambridge Analytica data scandal just reassures that nothing is bigger than Big data, not even democracy.
The Great White Hack. Trump is the "White Hat" Hacker of US Democracyeholmes80
Account of 2016 Election as a cautionary tale and cause for individuals to rise up and exercise their democratic rights as the 2020 election approaches.
Trump is the "White Hat" Hacker of US Democracyeholmes80
Account of 2016 Election as a cautionary tale and cause for individuals to rise up and exercise their democratic rights as the 2020 election approaches.
The document summarizes the key findings of a 2020 report by the Institute for Public Relations on disinformation in American society. The report examines how Americans perceive intentionally misleading news or information. Some of the main findings are: 1) While over half of Americans see misinformation and disinformation as major problems, concerns have declined since 2019; 2) Fewer Americans are verifying information from other sources compared to 2019; 3) There are gaps between who the public thinks should be responsible for combating disinformation and perceptions of their actual performance.
IPR 2020 Disinformation in Society ReportSarah Jackson
This document summarizes the key findings of a 2020 report by the Institute for Public Relations on disinformation in American society. Some of the main findings include:
1) While over half of Americans see misinformation and disinformation as major problems, concerns declined from 2019 to 2020. The top issues facing Americans were infectious disease outbreaks and healthcare costs.
2) Fewer Americans are verifying information from other sources. Republicans and Democrats differ widely in their trust of news sources. Both parties agree that local news is most trustworthy.
3) Facebook and politicians are seen as the top sources of disinformation. Over 70% see misrepresentative news at least weekly, but most feel confident recognizing it. Dis
Digital Breadcrumbs- Investigating Internet Crime with Open Source Intellige...Nicholas Tancredi
This document discusses how open source intelligence (OSINT) tools and techniques can help law enforcement investigate internet crimes. It provides examples of how social media analysis and dark web investigations have helped identify suspects and combat issues like child pornography. The document also references statistics and studies on topics like drug markets on the dark web and how social media is exploited for criminal activities. It advocates for law enforcement to make use of social media searches and data mining frameworks to facilitate cybercrime investigations and intelligence gathering.
This document discusses how activism changed after 9/11 in the United States. It notes that dissent became more risky due to laws like the Patriot Act and a climate of fear. The internet provided new opportunities for anonymous and free expression of oppositional views online, but there were also privacy and surveillance concerns. Examples from Egypt, China, and Burma show how online protests can spread awareness and sometimes lead to real-world action, though governments also try to restrict internet access during unrest.
This document discusses how activism changed after 9/11 in the United States. It notes that dissent became more risky due to laws like the Patriot Act and a climate of fear. The internet provided new opportunities for anonymous and free expression of oppositional views online, but there were also privacy and surveillance concerns. Examples from Egypt, China, and Burma show how online protests can spread awareness and sometimes lead to real-world action, though governments also try to restrict internet access during unrest.
This document discusses how activism changed after 9/11 in the United States. It notes that dissent became more risky due to laws like the Patriot Act and a climate of fear. The internet provided new opportunities for anonymous and free expression of dissenting views online, but also risks to privacy from government surveillance. Examples from Egypt, China, and Burma show how online protests can spread awareness and sometimes lead to real-world action, though governments also try to restrict internet access during protests.
Final facebook in assam megaphone for hate - compressed (1)sabrangsabrang
The document discusses hate speech and disinformation spread on Facebook during Assam's citizenship verification process. It finds that Bengali Muslims facing extraordinary online abuse, with hate speech targeting minorities and inciting violence. While some hate targets Bengali Hindus, most targets Muslims. It warns this dangerous speech could influence policies stripping citizenship from 1.9 million excluded people. The UN had warned of tensions from the process and raised concerns about rising online hate against minorities in Assam. The findings show deeply troubling hate speech being shared on Facebook in Assam during this period of uncertainty.
The article discusses ethical issues in news reporting, specifically regarding objectivity, fairness, and accuracy. It gives examples of three main New Zealand television news programs - One News owned by a government-owned broadcaster, and Three News owned by a privately-owned broadcaster. While news programs aim to present information objectively without bias, in reality complete neutrality can be difficult to achieve due to the influence of owners, advertisers, and other external factors.
The document discusses the dangers of oversharing personal information on social media. It provides examples of how hackers have been able to access and misuse people's private data from their social media profiles. One case describes a man whose Facebook account was hacked and used to scam his friends out of $1,000. The document urges users to be selective about what they post online and to avoid posting too many private details that could enable identity theft or fraud.
Digital Breadcrums: Investigating Internet Crime with Open Source Intelligenc...Nicholas Tancredi
Capstone project for a 12-week online course with the International Association of Crime Analysts. My topic was on how crime and intelligence analysts are using open source intelligence (OSINT) to investigate Internet crime.
Social media is a very powerful tool and like any other tool (knife, axe, etc) its impact depends on the intention of its user. Go through this slideshow to reflect back on what we had learnt from social media and its use in politics across countries from 2014 to 2018.
A History of Fake News
https://geopoliticalfutures.com/?utm_source=GPF%20-%20Media&utm_campaign=23d5498191-180518_Weekly_Graphic_GPF_Free_99_Sub&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_368360ed47-23d5498191-249724713&mc_cid=23d5498191&mc_eid=4db72a5228
The term “fake news” entered American political discourse
during the 2016 election with both Democrats
and Republicans charging each other and the media
with generating fake news. Ever since, there have been countless
stories about how public opinions are manipulated for
political gain. In March, it was revealed that a consulting firm
called Cambridge Analytica acquired Facebook user data and
used it to try to influence voters in the run-up to the election.
Just a few weeks later lawmakers in Malaysia approved a law
making it a crime to spread fake news, punishable by up to six
years in prison. Fake news has become a global issue that affects
the core of contemporary information technology. It has
gone from a charge hurled during an American political campaign
to an issue shaping global political discourse.
paper 2Debate 4 Yes.pptxWatchdog JournalismWhat i.docxbunyansaturnina
paper 2/Debate 4 Yes.pptx
Watchdog Journalism
What is Watchdog Journalism
“It is a style of writing or broadcast aimed at identifying a current societal problem, either hidden or overt, and offering opinion on necessary action.”
How to do watchdog journalism
Watchdog Reporting Covers:
Personal Scandals
Financial Wrongdoing
Political Corruption
Self-Enrichment in Public Office
Other types of wrongdoing
Role of Media
Public Interest
Warn Citizens
Regulation of
Government
Industry
Society in General
Is the media satisfactorily doing its duty to serve the role of watchdog for the community in society?
YES!!!
Source: Google Image
Political Safety
Watergate scandal
major political scandal
occurred in the United States during the early 1970s
a break-in by 4 Cuban Americans and 1 American at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1972.
reporting of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post and the subsequent resignation of U.S. president Richard Nixon in 1974.
Prism
a code name for a program under which the United StatesNational Security Agency (NSA)
collects internet communications from at least nine major US internet companies.
collects stored internet communications based on demands made to internet companies
Snowden copied and leakedclassified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013 without authorization.
His disclosures revealed numerous global surveillance programs, many run by the NSA and the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance with the cooperation of telecommunication companies and European governments.
(A well-known example is the reporting of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post and the subsequent resignation of U.S. president Richard Nixon in 1974. )
Prism
Food Safety
A phone conversation captures
One former employee -- a mom, was so disturbed by the spoiled food.
She had her husband call the local health services department.
And it took them five days to finally come out and investigate!
By then all the spoiled chicken had been cooked and served, but the smell still lingered.
At least KFC corporate was concerned enough that they shut down the store for a week to investigate and to retrain its employees.
Supposedly a phone conversation captures the manager telling and employee to cook what she could of the spoiled chicken (just not the worst of it) and then change the dates on the boxes.
One former employee -- a mom, was so disturbed by the spoiled food that she had her husband call the local health services department. And it took them five days to finally come out and investigate! By then all the spoiled chicken had been cooked and served, but the smell still lingered.
At least KFC corporate was concerned enough that they shut down the store for a week to investigate and to retrain its employees.
Rus.
What are the common challenges faced by women lawyers working in the legal pr...lawyersonia
The legal profession, which has historically been male-dominated, has experienced a significant increase in the number of women entering the field over the past few decades. Despite this progress, women lawyers continue to encounter various challenges as they strive for top positions.
The History and Spread of American Fake News and What Organizations Can Learn...Shandi Greve Penrod
This document provides an overview of the prevalence of fake news. It discusses how fake news has existed throughout history but has increased with new communication technologies like the internet and social media. The open internet allows anyone to publish information, and social media algorithms can spread misinformation quickly within social bubbles. The document highlights how fake news spread on social media greatly during the 2016 US election, influenced by both foreign actors like Russian troll farms and domestic profiteers creating fake news for advertising revenue. The prevalence of fake news online and its ability to spread widely has serious consequences for public discourse and organizations.
Internet subcultures like trolls, gamergaters, hate groups, conspiracy theorists, hyper-partisan news outlets, and politicians take advantage of vulnerabilities in the current media ecosystem to manipulate news frames and propagate their ideas. They use techniques like memes, bots, and strategic amplification on social media to increase the visibility of their messages. Factors like lack of trust in the media, decline of local news, and the attention economy make the media vulnerable to such manipulation. The outcomes can include increased misinformation, distrust of the media, and further radicalization.
We are living in the ear of post-truth. After the surge of fake news stories during the 2016 U.S. elections, several initiatives have been introduced to mitigate the problem like fact-checker organization, artificial intelligence and government aggressive measures. All this are promising, but are we really winning the battle against disinformation?
Most social media users blamed both political parties for the government shutdown, according to an analysis of over 150,000 tweets, Facebook posts, and Reddit comments. Sixty-four percent of comments blamed both sides, while 30% blamed Republicans and 6% blamed Democrats. The majority of posts expressed overwhelmingly negative sentiments toward both parties. Anti-Republican messaging increased following morning news shows, though anti-Democratic messaging was slower but more geographically widespread.
In this 21st century, data holders possess more power than governments. The ability to influence the opinion of people lies with them. Revisiting the Cambridge Analytica data scandal just reassures that nothing is bigger than Big data, not even democracy.
The Great White Hack. Trump is the "White Hat" Hacker of US Democracyeholmes80
Account of 2016 Election as a cautionary tale and cause for individuals to rise up and exercise their democratic rights as the 2020 election approaches.
Trump is the "White Hat" Hacker of US Democracyeholmes80
Account of 2016 Election as a cautionary tale and cause for individuals to rise up and exercise their democratic rights as the 2020 election approaches.
The document summarizes the key findings of a 2020 report by the Institute for Public Relations on disinformation in American society. The report examines how Americans perceive intentionally misleading news or information. Some of the main findings are: 1) While over half of Americans see misinformation and disinformation as major problems, concerns have declined since 2019; 2) Fewer Americans are verifying information from other sources compared to 2019; 3) There are gaps between who the public thinks should be responsible for combating disinformation and perceptions of their actual performance.
IPR 2020 Disinformation in Society ReportSarah Jackson
This document summarizes the key findings of a 2020 report by the Institute for Public Relations on disinformation in American society. Some of the main findings include:
1) While over half of Americans see misinformation and disinformation as major problems, concerns declined from 2019 to 2020. The top issues facing Americans were infectious disease outbreaks and healthcare costs.
2) Fewer Americans are verifying information from other sources. Republicans and Democrats differ widely in their trust of news sources. Both parties agree that local news is most trustworthy.
3) Facebook and politicians are seen as the top sources of disinformation. Over 70% see misrepresentative news at least weekly, but most feel confident recognizing it. Dis
Digital Breadcrumbs- Investigating Internet Crime with Open Source Intellige...Nicholas Tancredi
This document discusses how open source intelligence (OSINT) tools and techniques can help law enforcement investigate internet crimes. It provides examples of how social media analysis and dark web investigations have helped identify suspects and combat issues like child pornography. The document also references statistics and studies on topics like drug markets on the dark web and how social media is exploited for criminal activities. It advocates for law enforcement to make use of social media searches and data mining frameworks to facilitate cybercrime investigations and intelligence gathering.
This document discusses how activism changed after 9/11 in the United States. It notes that dissent became more risky due to laws like the Patriot Act and a climate of fear. The internet provided new opportunities for anonymous and free expression of oppositional views online, but there were also privacy and surveillance concerns. Examples from Egypt, China, and Burma show how online protests can spread awareness and sometimes lead to real-world action, though governments also try to restrict internet access during unrest.
This document discusses how activism changed after 9/11 in the United States. It notes that dissent became more risky due to laws like the Patriot Act and a climate of fear. The internet provided new opportunities for anonymous and free expression of oppositional views online, but there were also privacy and surveillance concerns. Examples from Egypt, China, and Burma show how online protests can spread awareness and sometimes lead to real-world action, though governments also try to restrict internet access during unrest.
This document discusses how activism changed after 9/11 in the United States. It notes that dissent became more risky due to laws like the Patriot Act and a climate of fear. The internet provided new opportunities for anonymous and free expression of dissenting views online, but also risks to privacy from government surveillance. Examples from Egypt, China, and Burma show how online protests can spread awareness and sometimes lead to real-world action, though governments also try to restrict internet access during protests.
Final facebook in assam megaphone for hate - compressed (1)sabrangsabrang
The document discusses hate speech and disinformation spread on Facebook during Assam's citizenship verification process. It finds that Bengali Muslims facing extraordinary online abuse, with hate speech targeting minorities and inciting violence. While some hate targets Bengali Hindus, most targets Muslims. It warns this dangerous speech could influence policies stripping citizenship from 1.9 million excluded people. The UN had warned of tensions from the process and raised concerns about rising online hate against minorities in Assam. The findings show deeply troubling hate speech being shared on Facebook in Assam during this period of uncertainty.
The article discusses ethical issues in news reporting, specifically regarding objectivity, fairness, and accuracy. It gives examples of three main New Zealand television news programs - One News owned by a government-owned broadcaster, and Three News owned by a privately-owned broadcaster. While news programs aim to present information objectively without bias, in reality complete neutrality can be difficult to achieve due to the influence of owners, advertisers, and other external factors.
The document discusses the dangers of oversharing personal information on social media. It provides examples of how hackers have been able to access and misuse people's private data from their social media profiles. One case describes a man whose Facebook account was hacked and used to scam his friends out of $1,000. The document urges users to be selective about what they post online and to avoid posting too many private details that could enable identity theft or fraud.
Digital Breadcrums: Investigating Internet Crime with Open Source Intelligenc...Nicholas Tancredi
Capstone project for a 12-week online course with the International Association of Crime Analysts. My topic was on how crime and intelligence analysts are using open source intelligence (OSINT) to investigate Internet crime.
Social media is a very powerful tool and like any other tool (knife, axe, etc) its impact depends on the intention of its user. Go through this slideshow to reflect back on what we had learnt from social media and its use in politics across countries from 2014 to 2018.
A History of Fake News
https://geopoliticalfutures.com/?utm_source=GPF%20-%20Media&utm_campaign=23d5498191-180518_Weekly_Graphic_GPF_Free_99_Sub&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_368360ed47-23d5498191-249724713&mc_cid=23d5498191&mc_eid=4db72a5228
The term “fake news” entered American political discourse
during the 2016 election with both Democrats
and Republicans charging each other and the media
with generating fake news. Ever since, there have been countless
stories about how public opinions are manipulated for
political gain. In March, it was revealed that a consulting firm
called Cambridge Analytica acquired Facebook user data and
used it to try to influence voters in the run-up to the election.
Just a few weeks later lawmakers in Malaysia approved a law
making it a crime to spread fake news, punishable by up to six
years in prison. Fake news has become a global issue that affects
the core of contemporary information technology. It has
gone from a charge hurled during an American political campaign
to an issue shaping global political discourse.
paper 2Debate 4 Yes.pptxWatchdog JournalismWhat i.docxbunyansaturnina
paper 2/Debate 4 Yes.pptx
Watchdog Journalism
What is Watchdog Journalism
“It is a style of writing or broadcast aimed at identifying a current societal problem, either hidden or overt, and offering opinion on necessary action.”
How to do watchdog journalism
Watchdog Reporting Covers:
Personal Scandals
Financial Wrongdoing
Political Corruption
Self-Enrichment in Public Office
Other types of wrongdoing
Role of Media
Public Interest
Warn Citizens
Regulation of
Government
Industry
Society in General
Is the media satisfactorily doing its duty to serve the role of watchdog for the community in society?
YES!!!
Source: Google Image
Political Safety
Watergate scandal
major political scandal
occurred in the United States during the early 1970s
a break-in by 4 Cuban Americans and 1 American at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 1972.
reporting of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post and the subsequent resignation of U.S. president Richard Nixon in 1974.
Prism
a code name for a program under which the United StatesNational Security Agency (NSA)
collects internet communications from at least nine major US internet companies.
collects stored internet communications based on demands made to internet companies
Snowden copied and leakedclassified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013 without authorization.
His disclosures revealed numerous global surveillance programs, many run by the NSA and the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance with the cooperation of telecommunication companies and European governments.
(A well-known example is the reporting of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post and the subsequent resignation of U.S. president Richard Nixon in 1974. )
Prism
Food Safety
A phone conversation captures
One former employee -- a mom, was so disturbed by the spoiled food.
She had her husband call the local health services department.
And it took them five days to finally come out and investigate!
By then all the spoiled chicken had been cooked and served, but the smell still lingered.
At least KFC corporate was concerned enough that they shut down the store for a week to investigate and to retrain its employees.
Supposedly a phone conversation captures the manager telling and employee to cook what she could of the spoiled chicken (just not the worst of it) and then change the dates on the boxes.
One former employee -- a mom, was so disturbed by the spoiled food that she had her husband call the local health services department. And it took them five days to finally come out and investigate! By then all the spoiled chicken had been cooked and served, but the smell still lingered.
At least KFC corporate was concerned enough that they shut down the store for a week to investigate and to retrain its employees.
Rus.
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Synopsis On Annual General Meeting/Extra Ordinary General Meeting With Ordinary And Special Businesses And Ordinary And Special Resolutions with Companies (Postal Ballot) Regulations, 2018
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Matthew Professional CV experienced Government LiaisonMattGardner52
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against which they can evaluate those classes of AI applications that are probably the most relevant for them.
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Discover how Mississauga criminal defence lawyers defend clients facing weapon offence charges with expert legal guidance and courtroom representation.
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1. 1
Cady Rombach
News Media
Paper #2
** Employer, please note: The original prompt for this assignment is included on
pages 13-16 of this document. **
Honor Pledge: On my honor as a student, I pledge that I have neither given nor
received aid on this assignment. - Cady Rombach
Section 230 must be amended to make social media platforms liable for
allowing harassment, physical endangerment, and misinformation to fester without
protective moderation. Unchecked platforms cause irreparable harm both
domestically and internationally. Facebook has inflamed persecution and
precipitated a genocide in Myanmar. In India, a campaign of false information on
WhatsApp influenced election turnout. Platforms harm people at the individual
level, too, by exposing the personal information of vulnerable users. In the U.S.,
online lies about election fraud incited an insurrection, as unsubstantiated claims
about COVID-19 caused unnecessary illness. It is lazy and negligent for platforms
to claim an “inability” to properly moderate. Newspapers, radio, and broadcast
television have for decades been responsible for the content they publish, all while
preserving free speech—the same standard should be true for social media. A
Section 230 reform would necessarily force platforms to prioritize user protection
over profit.
2. 2
In Myanmar, Facebook’s delay in removing persecutory posts has made it
the primary site for anti-Rohingya Muslim sentiment and enabled the genocide of
over 10,000 Rohingyas1
. Internet access in Myanmar, still in its infancy, is
synonymous with Facebook use. 38 percent of Myanmar Facebook users received
“most, if not all, of their news on the site”2
. Facebook relies on users to flag
content that might violate the site's complicated "community standards”2
, but
because Burmese people are new to the Internet, they are less equipped to discern
misinformation. Anti-Rohingya sentiment on Facebook is propagated both by
normal citizens and military officers. In 2017, the Burmese commander in chief,
Min Aung Hlaing, included the anti-Rohingya term “Bengali terrorist” 41 times in
one Facebook post2
. Hlaing had over 2 million followers at the time of posting.
Facebook did not remove Hlaing’s post or deactivate his account until August
2018, when the U.N. called for Myanmar’s military leaders to be prosecuted for
genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes3
. In November 2018, Facebook
3
Mahtani, Shibani. “U.N. Report Calls for Myanmar Generals to Be Prosecuted for
Genocide, War Crimes.” Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2018,
2
Gowen, Annie, and Max Bearak. “Fake News on Facebook Fans the Flames of
Hate against the Rohingya in Burma.” Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2017,
www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/fake-news-on-facebook-fans-the-fla
mes-of-hate-against-the-rohingya-in-burma/2017/12/07/2c1fe830-ca1f-11e7-b506-
8a10ed11ecf5_story.html?itid=lk_readmore_manual_45.
1
Cachero, Paulina. “Myanmar Has Been Ordered to Protect Rohingya Muslims
from Genocide, Following an Estimated 10,000 Deaths.” Insider, 23 Jan. 2020,
www.insider.com/myanmar-ordered-to-protect-rohingya-muslims-from-genocide-b
y-un-2020-1.
3. 3
vaguely stated they “weren’t doing enough” to prevent the spread of ethnic
cleansing ideology4
, but dodged negative press by releasing this statement one
night before the U.S. midterm elections5
. It should not take a U.N. investigation for
platforms to eliminate genocidal content. With a Section 230 reform, Facebook
would be incentivized in the U.S. to censor hatred like this, before it reaches
millions of people and kills tens of thousands.
Platforms that collect sensitive information on users like location fail to
protect users from in-person harassment because they are not federally obligated to
do so. In 2017, Matthew Herrick accused LGBTQ dating app Grindr of
“negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false advertising, and
deceptive business practices”6
. Herrick’s ex-boyfriend manipulated Grindr’s
geo-location function to create multiple fake profiles using Herrick’s likeness.
Many of the profiles included falsified, violent requests like “rape fantasy” that
6
Greenberg, Andy. “Spoofed Grindr Accounts Turned One Man’s Life Into a
‘Living Hell.’” Wired, 3 June 2017,
www.wired.com/2017/01/grinder-lawsuit-spoofed-accounts.
5
Stevenson, Alexandra. “Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in
Myanmar.” The New York Times, 6 Nov. 2018,
www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/technology/myanmar-facebook.html.
4
Warofka, Alex Product Policy Manager. “An Independent Assessment of the
Human Rights Impact of Facebook in Myanmar.” About Facebook, 15 Mar. 2021,
about.fb.com/news/2018/11/myanmar-hria.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-report-calls-for-myanmar-generals-to-be-inves
tigated-prosecuted-for-genocide-and-war-crimes/2018/08/27/fbf280a6-a9b5-11e8-
8f4b-aee063e14538_story.html.
4. 4
endangered Herrick. From 2016-2017, over 700 unwanted men appeared at
Herrick’s home and work. Until Herrick sued, the only responses he received from
the app were “auto-replies”. Grindr pushed the case to federal court to argue
Section 230 protection7
. In February 2017, the federal court sided with Grindr. US
District Court Judge Valerie E. Caproni found the platform’s actions unacceptable,
but acknowledged that “a dating app like Grindr couldn’t be sued because one of
its users harassed someone through the platform”7
. Though Grindr was the singular
host of the targeted intimidation and threats of violence that Herrick endured, the
platform was absolved of any responsibility. Herrick’s case demonstrates the need
for Section 230 reform that implicates platforms in the harassment carried out on
their turf.
Without sufficient moderation, social media platforms endanger the lives of
individuals caught in the crosshairs of conspiracy theories. In September 2020,
Pro-Trump extremists like One America News’s Jack Posobiec wrote, “Stop the
Steal” on social media8
. The phrase, embraced by Trump, came to embody lies
8
DFRLab, Atlantic Council’S. “#StopTheSteal: Timeline of Social Media and
Extremist Activities Leading to 1/6 Insurrection.” Just Security, 10 Feb. 2021,
www.justsecurity.org/74622/stopthesteal-timeline-of-social-media-and-extremist-a
ctivities-leading-to-1-6-insurrection.
7
Kingkade, Tyler. “Herrick Vs. Grindr Is A Section 230 Case That Could Change
The Internet As We Know It.” BuzzFeed News, 16 Jan. 2021,
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tylerkingkade/grindr-herrick-lawsuit-230-online-st
alking.
5. 5
about anti-Republican election fraud. QAnon conspiracy theorists and fringe
conservatives sowed doubts in the election by making unsubstantiated claims of
voter fraud on social media. As a result, pro-Trump protesters across the U.S.
gathered to intimidate poll workers in locations such as Atlanta’s State Farm
Arena9
and Detroit’s TCF Center10
. Ruby Freeman, a Black temp worker at
Atlanta’s Fulton County polling station, was targeted by conspiracy theorists for
supposed mishandling of ballots11
. Freeman was doxxed, harassed with racial slurs,
and received over 420 emails and 75 text messages, including one that read: "We
know where you live, we coming to get you”11
. Freeman is dragged into baseless
claims about election fraud on Twitter with hashtags such as #GeorgiaBallotStuffer
and #RubyFreeman12
. On YouTube, a search for “Ruby Freeman” returns
unrestricted videos including, “Georgia Voter Fraud starring Ruby Freeman
CAUGHT ON TAPE”13
and “Zoomed version of Ruby Freeman committing
13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoX3EaCcAz8
12
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GeorgiaBallotStuffer&lang=en
11
Kauffman, Johnny. “‘You Better Run’: After Trump’s False Attacks, Election
Workers Faced Threats.” NPR, 5 Feb. 2021,
choice.npr.org/index.html?origin=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/05/963828783/you-
better-run-after-trumps-false-attacks-election-workers-faced-threats.
10
Frank, Annalise. “Chaos at TCF Center as Crowds of Election Challengers Shout
‘Stop the Vote.’” Crain’s Detroit Business, 4 Nov. 2020,
www.crainsdetroit.com/elections/chaos-tcf-center-crowds-election-challengers-sho
ut-stop-vote.
9
Boone, Christian. “Partisan Divide Fueled by Partisan Media.” The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution [Atlanta, GA], 5 Nov. 2020, www.ajc.com/gdpr.html.
6. 6
massive voter fraud in #georgia”14
. Even months after claims of voter fraud were
debunked15
, these posts remain live and viewable. Falsified and misleading content
like this threatens the livelihood of innocent individuals and indicates the need for
stricter platform liability.
By amplifying lies about voter fraud in the 2020 Presidential election,
platforms aided in the planning and execution of the January 6th, 2021 violent
insurrection of the U.S. Capitol. On December 19th, 2020, Donald Trump tweeted,
“Statistically impossible to have lost the 2020 Election”16
. The same month,
Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling warned, “someone’s going to get killed”17
if election lies continue to spread. On January 4th, Trump told supporters at a
pre-election rally, “They’re not taking this White House. We’re going to fight like
hell.” Trump sympathizers heightened calls to “fight” the proven election results.
17
Parks, Miles. “Election Officials Warned ‘Someone’s Going To Get Shot,’ But
That Didn’t Stop Trump.” NPR, 6 Jan. 2021,
choice.npr.org/index.html?origin=https://www.npr.org/sections/congress-electoral-
college-tally-live-updates/2021/01/06/954148117/election-officials-warned-someo
nes-going-to-get-shot-but-that-didnt-stop-trump.
16
Goodman, Ryan. “Incitement Timeline: Year of Trump’s Actions Leading to the
Attack on the Capitol.” Just Security, 25 Feb. 2021,
www.justsecurity.org/74138/incitement-timeline-year-of-trumps-actions-leading-to
-the-attack-on-the-capitol.
15
Alba, Davey, and Sheera Frenkel. “Here Are 6 Voter Fraud Claims You May
Hear in Electoral Vote Hearing.” The New York Times, 6 Jan. 2021,
www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/business/election-fraud.html.
14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NadMcAtOlXk
7. 7
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted, “FIGHT. FOR. TRUMP.”16
Before
suspension, Trump’s account, @realDonaldTrump, was “followed by 20% of US
adults” on Twitter18
. The Pew Research Center noted, “Tweets sent by political
figures – particularly the president – often have far more reach” than follower
count alone19
. Many Americans see Trump’s tweets by other pathways, “such as
through retweets, quote tweets or in media coverage”19
.
The failure of platforms to remove false public health information about
COVID-19 has caused unnecessary harm to Americans who heed unfounded
advice. After Donald Trump remarked that chlorine dioxide might treat the virus,
misinformation spread across Twitter and Facebook that claimed the same idea20
.
As an excuse, Twitter claimed, “We will not require every Tweet that contains
incomplete or disputed information about #COVID19 to be removed. As an open
20
Culliford, Elizabeth. “Twitter Allows Trump COVID-19 Disinfectant Videos,
Blocks ‘#InjectDisinfectant.’” U.S., 27 Apr. 2020,
www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-trump-twitter/twitter-allows-trump-
covid-19-disinfectant-videos-blocks-injectdisinfectant-idUSKCN2262SR.
19
Wojcik, Stefan, et al. “About One-in-Five Adult Twitter Users in the U.S. Follow
Trump.” Pew Research Center, 15 July 2019,
www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/15/about-one-in-five-adult-twitter-users-i
n-the-u-s-follow-trump.
18
“Differences in How Democrats and Republicans Behave on Twitter.” Pew
Research Center - U.S. Politics & Policy, 15 Oct. 2020,
www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/10/15/differences-in-how-democrats-and-repu
blicans-behave-on-twitter.
8. 8
service, this is not scalable and limits active discussion”21
. But these Tweets have
real impact. Nearly 50 residents of Texas required treatment “after they ingested
the chemical in order to kill the Coronavirus”, and 12 were hospitalized22
. Clearly,
Trump’s misinformation about COVID-19 should be moderated to avoid this
physical harm.
Social media companies should face more scrutiny for the content they allow
to surface and circulate on their platforms. The results of a failure to do so have
already been devastating — genocide, personal harassment, dangerous health
advice, and an insurrection. Section 230 must be reformed to hold platforms
accountable for the real, measurable harm they do to Americans and users across
the globe.
22
Beausoleil, Sophia. “North Texas Poison Center Reminds People Again Not to
Ingest Cleaning Products.” NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, 24 Aug. 2020,
www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/north-texas-poison-center-reminds-people-again-no
t-to-ingest-cleaning-products/2431779.
21
Reichert, Corinne. “Twitter Says Videos of Trump Suggesting Disinfectant as
COVID-19 Treatment Don’t Violate Policy.” CNET, 25 Apr. 2020,
www.cnet.com/health/twitter-reportedly-says-videos-of-trump-suggesting-disinfect
ant-as-covid-19-treatment-dont-violate-policy.
9. 9
Works Cited
Alba, Davey, and Sheera Frenkel. “Here Are 6 Voter Fraud Claims You May Hear in
Electoral Vote Hearing.” The New York Times, 6 Jan. 2021,
www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/business/election-fraud.html.
Beausoleil, Sophia. “North Texas Poison Center Reminds People Again Not to Ingest
Cleaning Products.” NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, 24 Aug. 2020,
www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/north-texas-poison-center-reminds-people-again-n
ot-to-ingest-cleaning-products/2431779.
Boone, Christian. “Partisan Divide Fueled by Partisan Media.” The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution [Atlanta, GA], 5 Nov. 2020, www.ajc.com/gdpr.html.
Cachero, Paulina. “Myanmar Has Been Ordered to Protect Rohingya Muslims from
Genocide, Following an Estimated 10,000 Deaths.” Insider, 23 Jan. 2020,
www.insider.com/myanmar-ordered-to-protect-rohingya-muslims-from-genocide-
by-un-2020-1.
Culliford, Elizabeth. “Twitter Allows Trump COVID-19 Disinfectant Videos, Blocks
‘#InjectDisinfectant.’” U.S., 27 Apr. 2020,
www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-trump-twitter/twitter-allows-trum
p-covid-19-disinfectant-videos-blocks-injectdisinfectant-idUSKCN2262SR.
10. 10
DFRLab, Atlantic Council’S. “#StopTheSteal: Timeline of Social Media and Extremist
Activities Leading to 1/6 Insurrection.” Just Security, 10 Feb. 2021,
www.justsecurity.org/74622/stopthesteal-timeline-of-social-media-and-extremist-
activities-leading-to-1-6-insurrection.
“Differences in How Democrats and Republicans Behave on Twitter.” Pew Research
Center - U.S. Politics & Policy, 15 Oct. 2020,
www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/10/15/differences-in-how-democrats-and-rep
ublicans-behave-on-twitter.
Frank, Annalise. “Chaos at TCF Center as Crowds of Election Challengers Shout ‘Stop
the Vote.’” Crain’s Detroit Business, 4 Nov. 2020,
www.crainsdetroit.com/elections/chaos-tcf-center-crowds-election-challengers-sh
out-stop-vote.
Goodman, Ryan. “Incitement Timeline: Year of Trump’s Actions Leading to the Attack
on the Capitol.” Just Security, 25 Feb. 2021,
www.justsecurity.org/74138/incitement-timeline-year-of-trumps-actions-leading-t
o-the-attack-on-the-capitol.
Gowen, Annie, and Max Bearak. “Fake News on Facebook Fans the Flames of Hate
against the Rohingya in Burma.” Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2017,
www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/fake-news-on-facebook-fans-the-fla
mes-of-hate-against-the-rohingya-in-burma/2017/12/07/2c1fe830-ca1f-11e7-b506
-8a10ed11ecf5_story.html?itid=lk_readmore_manual_45.
11. 11
Greenberg, Andy. “Spoofed Grindr Accounts Turned One Man’s Life Into a ‘Living
Hell.’” Wired, 3 June 2017,
www.wired.com/2017/01/grinder-lawsuit-spoofed-accounts.
Kauffman, Johnny. “‘You Better Run’: After Trump’s False Attacks, Election Workers
Faced Threats.” NPR, 5 Feb. 2021,
choice.npr.org/index.html?origin=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/05/963828783/yo
u-better-run-after-trumps-false-attacks-election-workers-faced-threats.
Kingkade, Tyler. “Herrick Vs. Grindr Is A Section 230 Case That Could Change The
Internet As We Know It.” BuzzFeed News, 16 Jan. 2021,
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tylerkingkade/grindr-herrick-lawsuit-230-online-
stalking.
Mahtani, Shibani. “U.N. Report Calls for Myanmar Generals to Be Prosecuted for
Genocide, War Crimes.” Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2018,
www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-report-calls-for-myanmar-generals-to-be-inv
estigated-prosecuted-for-genocide-and-war-crimes/2018/08/27/fbf280a6-a9b5-11e
8-8f4b-aee063e14538_story.html.
Parks, Miles. “Election Officials Warned ‘Someone’s Going To Get Shot,’ But That
Didn’t Stop Trump.” NPR, 6 Jan. 2021,
choice.npr.org/index.html?origin=https://www.npr.org/sections/congress-electoral
-college-tally-live-updates/2021/01/06/954148117/election-officials-warned-some
ones-going-to-get-shot-but-that-didnt-stop-trump.
12. 12
Reichert, Corinne. “Twitter Says Videos of Trump Suggesting Disinfectant as COVID-19
Treatment Don’t Violate Policy.” CNET, 25 Apr. 2020,
www.cnet.com/health/twitter-reportedly-says-videos-of-trump-suggesting-disinfe
ctant-as-covid-19-treatment-dont-violate-policy.
Stevenson, Alexandra. “Facebook Admits It Was Used to Incite Violence in Myanmar.”
The New York Times, 6 Nov. 2018,
www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/technology/myanmar-facebook.html.
Warofka, Alex Product Policy Manager. “An Independent Assessment of the Human
Rights Impact of Facebook in Myanmar.” About Facebook, 15 Mar. 2021,
about.fb.com/news/2018/11/myanmar-hria.
Wojcik, Stefan, et al. “About One-in-Five Adult Twitter Users in the U.S. Follow
Trump.” Pew Research Center, 15 July 2019,
www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/15/about-one-in-five-adult-twitter-users-
in-the-u-s-follow-trump.
13. 13
Paper Two Prompt
Social Media, Reform or Protect
The News Media, MDST 3230, Spring 2021
Due: Tuesday, April 13, 5pm –Collab Assignments, Paper Two.
Please write a persuasive essay, supported by research and footnotes, with at
least 6 real world examples found in news articles and/or news viewings which
support your point of view. The goal of a persuasive essay is to persuade the reader
of your opinion with extremely clear arguments.
**This is a 1000 word minimum paper, with that limit enforced. No
maximum.
THE KEY PROMPT
REFORM OR PROTECT? Choose one of the options below, take a clear,
unambiguous stand and then defend it.
REFORM. We should REFORM Section 230 to allow lawsuits against social
media platforms in cases where the platforms host, promote, or fail to remove
content that causes harm. Or....
PROTECT. We should PROTECT social media platforms against lawsuits because
forcing them to judge and remove user content will lead to the censorship of
protected political speech.
Declare and defend your choice with blunt force clarity. Except for the very first
sentence which is worth 10 points, I will not be directly deducting points for lack
of clarity, or the failure to lead paragraphs with arguments. However, you risk not
earning points if your arguments aren’t well explained. There will be major
deductions for lapses in sentence structure, grammar and spelling.
At least half the class wrote paper one with basic errors. Please fix that—the
outside world judges carelessness harshly. Please--proofread this paper with focus
and diligence,
14. 14
OPTIONAL CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
You may include one Contrast Paragraph that supports the other side. This is
optional, not mandatory. But if you write a Contrast Paragraph, keep it to one
paragraph and include a real world example showing where your point happened.
In this contrast paragraph you may explore the platforms most recent promises to
reform by giving users more control over received content.
Must Read. Important Context—Mass Scale Disinformation Is Your Focus.
Please keep in mind this is a class called The News Media and that we are
studying social media in depth because most of the Americans who use it for news
can no longer expect that the content on the platforms is truthful.
Your choice of Reform vs. Protect should focus on “content moderation.”
Should social media be held responsible in court for not removing or for actively
promoting mass scale disinformation or inciteful speech which causes harm?
Or—again- should we Protect social media against lawsuits because forcing the
platforms to judge disinformation or hate speech more closely/more quickly will
result in censorship?
My point is: keep your focus on whether this fear of liability will help solve
harassment or disinformation. This is not an anti-trust paper. Your essay should not
be about breaking up the companies-- on focus on the charge that they’ve become
monopolies.
FOOTNOTES AND THE RESEARCH REQUIREMENT
**List footnotes at the bottom of each page. **6 real world
examples—directly connected to the point you are making-- are required for
an A.
Within this essay, support every argument and factual claim with a footnote I can
find, or a footnote to a link that works when clicked. I do not care what format you
use for the footnotes. I just have to find it with a click or a copy and paste.
Citing the lectures or other research is allowed, but you need at least 6
footnoted, real world examples showing the reader—“here’s a specific example of
15. 15
what I’ve just described.” Be careful not to use some commentator’s “claims” of
harm or “claims” of censorship without citing an actual example.
**Why real world examples? In persuasive essays, one key is to persuade
the audience that what you are describing happened HERE. There was personal or
social harm suffered HERE or protected speech wrongly taken down HERE.
A NOTE ON OWNING YOUR OPINION
Seriously, you do not have to agree with my argument that social media has
caused and promoted so much harm, it’s time to subject the platforms to lawsuits.
There are powerful reasons to maintain their protections. The goal is to explain
your point of view with blunt clarity and then support your analysis with facts.
DUE DATE AND FORMAT REQUIREMENTS
Due Tuesday April 13, 5 pm. Submit as WordDoc attachment in Collab
Assignments, Paper Two. Do not submit in Pages, Google Docs or a PDF.
Do not submit a late paper. Late papers earn a zero and won’t be accepted by
Collab after 5.
Please Write This Paper in Microsoft Word, Times New Roman font, 14 pt. type.
LABELING REQUIREMENT **Important** Deduction Involved**
Label Your Document File in This Format: First NameLast NameChoice
Example: WyattAndrewsReform.doc or WyattAndrewsProtect.doc
There will be point deductions for lapses in word count, formatting, labeling and
failure to include the Honor Code.
HONOR CODE REQUIREMENT
Write out the full honor code and write your name under it. Several random
papers with be checked with phrase comparison software. If you forget to include a
signed Honor Code statement, there’s a 5 point paper deduction.
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GRADE WEIGHTS
10%. Does the first sentence of your essay state and explain your main
argument concisely and with blunt clarity?
25 %. Have you footnoted all factual assertions? Footnotes at the bottom?
Met the minimum of 6 real world examples? Used inaccurate news sources? Do all
your links work? **Have you found original examples not mentioned in the
lectures?
15% Have you proofread this paper to eliminate lapses in grammar, or
spelling or incomplete sentences?
50 % By the end of your essay, would a reader, in or outside of this class
understand your main points and your reasons?